BILLINGS, Mont. – Currently tied for first place in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference standings, the Montana State University Billings men's soccer team hits the road for a pair of conference matches this weekend against Concordia University and Northwest Nazarene University.
 
The Yellowjackets (4-1-2, 2-0-1 GNAC) are coming off a 1-0 shutout of Western Washington last Thursday and a 1-1 double overtime draw against Simon Fraser on Saturday as they remained undefeated at home and in GNAC play after the weekend's matches.
 
Heading to Oregon on Thursday, the 'Jackets will face the GNAC's newest member in Concordia with a 4:30 p.m. Mountain time kickoff at Hilken Community Stadium in Northeast Portland. MSUB will then head east to Idaho to challenge the Crusaders with a 1:30 p.m. kickoff at the NNU Soccer Field.
 
Thursday's match against the Cavaliers will feature live video and statistics, and Saturday's against the Crusaders will have live stats only available via MSUB's Stretch Internet portal.
 
"We will definitely be watching a lot of game film on both of those programs, but really all we are going to be focusing on is tomorrow's training session," said MSUB head coach Alex Balog. "We have never played Concordia before and they are a bit of an unknown, but we do have an idea of what we are going to see against them."
 
Undefeated over its last five matches, MSUB has allowed just two goals total during that time span. One came on Saturday against SFU, as the Clan won a penalty kick in the second half to even the score at 1-1. Otherwise, MSUB's defense was spotless on the weekend, shutting down Western Washington and limiting its two opponents to seven total shots on target between the two matches.
 
As a team the Yellowjackets rank No. 25 in all of the NCAA Division II in scoring offense with 2.57 goals per game, a total that leads the GNAC. MSUB also ranks No. 23 in total assists with 16 and No. 29 in total goals with 18 through its first seven matches.
 
AMONG NATIONAL LEADERS: Individually, Ricardo Palomino remained among national leaders as he scored his ninth goal of the season last week to rank him No. 5 in the nation. Three of his goals have counted as game-winners this year, which is tied for the second-most in the NCAA.
 
Palomino's 1.29 goals per game is fourth-best, and his 2.86 points per game is sixth best. Julian Toenges also ranks among national leaders in several offensive categories, including 18th in assists per game (0.71) and 16th in total assists (five).
 
LEE LOCKDOWN ON D: Senior captain Cameron Lee helped MSUB collect its third shutout of the year in the win over the Vikings, and was instrumental in keeping MSUB in the game against the Clan two days later. Overall he played all 200 minutes in the two matches as a center back, maintaining organization and preventing MSUB's opponents from gaining too many clear scoring chances.
 
Fellow center defender Tom Saltwell played all 110 minutes against the Clan, after 68 minutes defensively against the Vikings as he played a major role in the defensive effort as well.
 

LOW CHANCE OF SCORING ON LOHMANN: In goal, Lohmann came up with saves on six of his opponents' seven shots on target over the weekend. The lone ball he didn't save was a penalty kick which Simon Fraser used to salvage the 1-1 draw against the 'Jackets. Lohmann was also excellent on aerial balls in the box, punching clear crosses on more than one occasion and distributing passes to all parts of the field well out of his goal box.
 
"Tom Lohmann, Tom Saltwell and Cameron Lee played very well in that game against Western Washington," Balog commented on the shutout performance. "Western Washington is a very good team and they are well coached. Across the board we did well and this was a game where lots of our guys saw playing time so that is very pleasing for us."
 
HIGH TEAM MORRELL: Part of MSUB's defensive success has been due to its depth at all of its positions, and Anthony Morrell played a big part in both matches with 20-plus minutes in each last week. Fellow freshman Jacob Richter also saw the field in both matches, as the duo filled in nicely against the Yellowjackets' two toughest opponents to date this season.
 
WHERE THERE'S A WILLIAMS THERE'S A WAY: Sophomore Eli Williams stepped up for MSUB on Saturday,

coming off of the bench and locking down SFU's attackers for 51 strong minutes in the defensive unit. Williams held his marks well in the crucial second half with the score tied, and on multiple occasions prevented the Clan's attack from developing deep into his team's third of the field.
 
LAMBERT GETS THE NOD: Junior captain Rhys Lambert was responsible for giving MSUB the lead against the Clan, as he scored his first goal of the season on a header directly off of a free kick from Sam Butterworth. After scoring five times for the 'Jackets in 2014, Lambert found the net in the 24th minute and placed two of his team-high five shots in the match on target.
 
"Rhys and I connected last season three or four times off of that same play," Butterworth commented on the scoring play. "I just know that if I put that ball in that area Rhys is going to be making that run. As long as I can put that good ball in, I know Rhys will be there."
 
STARTING LOEUNG: David Loeung has started all seven matches on the season, and had seven more shots last weekend as his 19 attempts on the season rank second on the team to Palomino's 25. Loeung has scored three goals and chipped in a pair of assists as he, Toenges, and Palomino continue to fuel the Yellowjackets' offense up top.
 
"From what I have heard, Concordia has gotten pretty good results so far," Loeung said. "They are going to be a very good opponent and the GNAC is a very competitive league. I am excited, it will be a new challenge."
 
Thursday, October 1 – Concordia University (Ore.) – 4:30 p.m. MTN
2015 Record: 3-2-1, 1-1-1 GNAC
Head Coach: Dan Birkey, 28th season
2014 Record: 13-5, 12-2 CCC


After falling to nationally-ranked Northwest Nazarene 3-0 on the road, Concordia made a statement with a 5-1 win over Saint Martin's and a 1-1 draw against No. 3 Seattle Pacific last weekend.
 
In their first season competing in the GNAC, the Cavaliers have scored a dozen goals while surrendering nine. Matt Paine, Ben Culpan and Brady Sanders have each scored multiple times for CU, with Culpan's three goals pacing the squad thus far. Paine leads the team with four assists, and has totaled 20 shots in 446 minutes while starting all six matches.
 
Zak Naylor and Erick Urzua have each scored and turned in an assist this year, with the latter holding a shots-on-goal percentage of .556.
 
Mitch McCaw and Arne Niermann have split time in goal this year, as each has started three matches. McCaw has made 18 saves and allowed just three goals for a goals-against average of 0.81.
 
The Series: The meeting on Thursday will be the first-ever between the two teams.
 
Saturday, October 3 - #19 Northwest Nazarene University Crusaders – 1:30 p.m. MTN
2015 Record: 6-1-1, 2-0-1 GNAC
Head Coach: Coe Michaelson, 9th season
2014 Record: 15-4-1, 11-2-1 GNAC
 
The Crusaders enter their match on Thursday against the University of Mary with a four-game unbeaten streak, as NNU and UM will do battle before the 'Jackets cross paths with the 'Saders on Saturday.
 
Reaching No. 19 in this week's National Collegiate Soccer Coaches' Association top-25 poll, the Crusaders' only loss of the year came at home against Cal State Dominguez Hills 1-0 on Sept. 12.
 
NNU has allowed just four goals all season, outscoring opponents 12-4 as the team has had plenty of offensive firepower. Last week NNU battled SPU to a scoreless draw before defeating SMU 2-1 in a pair of road matches.
 
Alex Mitrovic and Abraham Placito have each scored four goals, and Julio Castillo leads the league in assists with six. Erik Anderson, Jaime Verdin, and Graham Reid have a pair of assists apiece, as the first two are key returners this year for ninth-year head coach Coe Michaelson.
 
Junior goalkeeper Ryan Foo ranks second in the conference in goals-against average at 0.48, having allowed four goals while making 27 saves. Foo has also tallied four shutouts while playing every minute of NNU's eight matches between the pipes.
 
NNU is one of only two teams in the GNAC that has taken more shots than MSUB, as the Crusaders have aimed towards goal 121 times. The Crusaders rank second to MSUB in points (39) assists (15), and goals (12), and they also rank second in fewest goals allowed.
 
The Series: Saturday's meeting will be the 22nd between the two familiar programs, with NNU holding a narrow 11-8 advantage with two draws in the mix as well. MSUB has not defeated NNU since back-to-back victories during the 2011 season.
 
Last Time Out: The Yellowjackets were shut out in both matches between the teams last season, with the Crusaders winning 3-0 in Billings on Nov. 8 and 2-0 in Nampa, Idaho on Sept. 20. Anderson had a goal and Castillo had an assist in the first game between the teams last year.